Rubber-dam clamp



(N0 Model.)

A. MEISTER. RUBBER DAM GLAMP.

Patented Beo. 22, 18911.

WIM/E8858 o/Qmz4 A TTOR/VEYS UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN A. MEISTER, OF ALLENTOJVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUBBER-DAM CLAMP.

SPECIFIGA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 465,716, dated. Deeember 22, 1891.

Application filed September 16, 1891. Seria1 N0. 405,87& (N0 mode1.)

T0 all whom it may c0nccrn:

Be itknown that I, CHRISTIAN A. MEISTER, cf Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State 0f Pennsylvania, have invented a new and nseful Improvement in Rubber-Dam Clamps for Denta1 Use, cf which the follow ing is a full, clear and exact description.

This invention relates to clamps for holding a rubber dam in position around a tooth. These c1amps usually consist of two opposing jaws nnited by a U-shaped c1osing spring portion at their back ends and generally integra1 with the j aws. There are various kind s cf these clamps, each having its jaw cf different construction and shape especially at their forward o1 gripping ends; but the closing spring portion uniting them at their back ends is usually the same. I shall here on1y illustrate .my invention by selecting three of these clamps having the gripping portions of their jaws 0f different construction an d shape; but the invention is applicable to other damclamps of Iike character diifering more or 1ess in construction am]. shape of the jaws. Much inconvenience and trouble is Often experienced in opening these spring-clamps to adapt them to hold and release the rubber dam and to place thelatter in position aronnd an incisor and bicuspid. T0 facilitate this, or

rather to pnt the rubber-dam clamp in position around a molar, a specia1 and separate instrument has been used in the form of a forceps, the prongs of which, pivoted together, have been provided with studs engag= Ing with perforations in the clamp, and having a slider on their handles I"or holding them at their proper distention; but such separate tool is expensive, very inconvenient and awkward tc use, am]. is otherwise objectionable.

My invention consists in providing the j aws of the c1amp with simple levers or fingers not pivoted together as a separate Instrument, but arranged to project beyond the spring portion of the clamp, whereby the clamp may be readily opened or manipnlated. These fingers may be either permanent attachments to the jaws of the c1amp 01 removable from them when desired, all substantially as hereinafter described, anti more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin g drawings,forming a partof this specification,

in which similar Ietters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figures 1 and 2 represent views in perspective of two rubber-dam clamps, ditfering only in the construction and shape of the gripping portions of th eir jaws, witl1 permanently-attached fingers for opening and manipulating the c1amp; and Fig. 3 is a further view in perspective of another rnbber-dam clamp with the fingers fitted so as to be removable from the jaws of said clamp when required.

A indicates the rubber-dam cla1np; b b, the jaws thereof, having their forward gripping end portions of any suitable construction and shape and united at their back ends by a spring portion c, Whi0h operates to force the jaws toward each other.

B B indicate the fingeis, separate from one another, applied to the jaws of the clamp and extendi ng backwardly beyond the spring base or portion c of the clamp any required. distance or Iength to facilitate the opening and manipulation of the clamp. In Figs. 1 and 2 0f the drawings these fingers are represented as being permanent attachments to the jaws of the c1amp by ha ving their forward ends e passed throngh perforations in the shanks of the jaws andbent backward or clincl'ned on the inside ot' the jaws. In Fig. 3 said fingers B B are made rembvable from the jaws of the clamp When requiredas for instance, by constrncting their forward ends e to only slightly cro0k forward to re'adily pass through and overlap the perforations in the shanks of the jaws and to admit ot' their easy withdrawal from the jawswhen necessary. In this 1atter case a chain f rnay be used to loosely connect the fingers together, so that on removal from the jaws they Will not be lost, b-ut be always ready for attachment to the jaws cf the c1amp when required.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rubber-dam clamp havinggrippingjaws united by a closing spring piece or portion at or near tbeir back ends, the jaws provided with attached and separate fingers arranged to extend back of or beyond the c1os- Ing spring portion of the clamp, substantially as specified.

2. In a Iubber-dam clam p haVing grippingja.ws united by a elosing spring pieee 01' portion ab 01 near their back ends, the jaws provided with separate a-nd removable fingers arranged to extend back of 01 beyond the elos- 5 ing spring portion of the elamp, essentiaily as described.

3. In a dental spring dani-clamp of the charaeter herein deseribed, the eombination, with the jaws having perforations in their shanks, of the separate fingers extending in 10 rea.r 0f the elamp %L]ld crooked 01 bent at their forward ends and adapted t0 engage through seid perforations with the j aws, substantiaiiy as specified.

CHRISTIAN A. MEISTER. Witnesses:

EMERSON F. SCI-IOOK,

REUBEN BRADER. 

